Silence is not an option!
Enough is enough and we must take action to bring change to our community. Here is how you can make a difference:
Vote
Former President Barack Obama recently spoke of the importance of both protesting and participating in electoral politics, especially at the local level, writing in an essay on Medium: "The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands."
To encourage a change, you have to vote for the lawmakers who can make it happen.
Get info on how to register and vote in Maryland here.
The General Election will take place Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Sign Petitions
Signing a petition is one of the first action steps when it comes to seeking justice. While it may seem like a small feat, signing petitions allow for a collective of voices to be heard and help for the messages their sharing to go unignored. Here are a few you can sign for justice for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and more:
- Grassroots Law Project's Justice for Floyd
- Justice for George Floyd
- Justice For Big Floyd
- Justice for George Floyd
- Justice for Breonna Taylor
- Justice for Ahmuad Arbery
- Life Sentence for Police Brutality
- We Can't Breathe
- Color of Change
- NAACP
- Amnesty International: Justice for George Floyd
- Charge the Minneapolis Police Officers
- Reclaim the Block
Make A Donation
There are a number of ways to put your money where your mouth is; from helping to pay bail for protesters by donating to bail funds to helping fund the entire Black Lives Matter movement, the ways to monetarily support those fighting racial injustices are endless. Here are a few:
- ACLU
- Maryland ACLU
- George Floyd Memorial Fund
- George Floyd Justice Fund
- I Run With Maud
- Black Visions Collective
- National Bail Fund
- The Bail Project
- NAACP Legal Defense Fund
- Minnesota Freedom Fund
- Winning Justice
- Campaign Zero
- Unicorn Riot
- The Bail Project
- Black Lives Matter
- Homeboy Industries
- A Place Called Home
- Hashtag Lunchbag
- United We Dream
- Boys & Girls Club Baltimore
- Inner City Arts
- Lost Angels Org
- Hav A Sole
- The Dream Center
- Atlanta Solidarity Fund
- Brooklyn Community Bail Fund
- Free Them All for Public Health
- Action Network of Atlanta
- People's Breakfast Oakland
Reach Out & Start A Conversation
A check-in can go a long way!
Your black friends, coworkers, peers need to hear from you during this time. They need to know that they have your support and that you're putting in the work to make a change. Plus, you can start the conversation about race and racial injustice. Race Forward offers great recourse on starting the convo here.
Educate Yourself
Conversations about race and racial injustice do not have to be uncomfortable and you do not have to be uninformed. The number of tools to understand and dismantle racism are out there, in fact, they're just a click away. Here are few:
Anti-Racism Resource: https://www.untilfreedom.com/
An Essential Reading Guide For Fighting Racism
Protest
There is power in hitting the streets to bring awareness to racial injustice. Across the world, millions have gathered to fight for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless number of black people killed due to police brutality. Their efforts have brought international coverage to racial injustice and put pressure on those in power to bring about change.